Following Our Bliss!

Cades Cove, Inspiration for Ghost Horse Hollow

Buffalo Tree  in Burdis Blue Turquoise 

Jack Williamson, Gemstone Sculptor

"Follow your bliss and the universe will open doors where there were only walls...."

Joseph Campbell

Sometimes in life we stumble, wondering if we made the right choices, if we took the best path through the woods. There are cloudy patches of time, perhaps a decade or two, when the way seems unclear. Usually our hearts are in the right place, but our judgmental minds second guess our steps, our relationships, and our careers. On those occasions it is helpful to remember the inspirational words of the mythologist, historian, and highly respected teacher Joseph Campbell, who happens to be one of my favorite contributors to humanity. 

Over the years, our family has come to recognize our deep seated love for the arts. We are writers, sculptors, dancers, painters, gardeners, poets, and designers. The calling to create in vivid and living colors in various mediums seems to run in our veins.  For us, there is no escaping the love of artistic endeavors. What do we do with such creative momentum? Is the pursuit of the arts practical? Artists traditionally struggle to make ends meet. All I can say, is that Joseph Campbell was right. Doors have appeared for us in places where there were only walls. Opportunities and financial gateways magically opened each leg of the journey, though there were many times when faith was literally all we had. 

Now as we embrace the start of our third decade together as a creative team, our collective endeavors have a richer, stronger intensity. We know not to give up. We stand by our decisions, because we have survived and have experienced tremendous blessings. When we began this artistic venture, we were homeless, unemployed, and without sponsors. Our first studio was in the tack room of a dusty barn. This month we will be setting up Jack's jewelry at the prestigious Berea Craft Fair in Berea, Kentucky, on July 7th, 8th, and 9th. We finally made it to the real Ghost Horse Highland Farm after creating the concept in a book series with our imaginations. The Ghost Horses are real as well, seventeen at last count., enjoying the Kentucky bluegrass hay and green pastures. And here is my new blog for everyone to share and follow, My Family Book Nook.

My advice is to listen to Joseph Campbell. Follow your bliss, too. Do not be deterred by the impossible. After all,  my other mentor, Nancy Lane Wright of the Dance Theater Workshop in Chattanooga, Tennessee, use to say to all of us artists, actors, dancers, directors, performers, and choreographers:

"The impossible only takes a little longer... and DO it and BE it!"

Ghost Horse Highland Farm in eastern Kentucky